I think we've done a good job of infusing a big dose of fun into Cruiser, trying to make sure every issue has as wide a variety of articles as possible, from first rides to comparos, new products to product reviews, buyer's guides to travel, tech how-to's to custom bikes.
However, I have to write about what I saw on December 22:
I was walking to the mall (yes, there are weirdos in L.A. who walk places) when I hear honking from up the street. There's a guy on a scooter approaching and a woman in a car was pulling across the left lane from the right one (or possibly the curb, I wasn't sure). She continues to pull across the lane, the guy honks more, then, with about 30 yards between them, starts steering to go around the front of her car. She doesn't hear and keeps turning, he tries to stop but plows into the side of the car, his head slamming the A-pillar or the top of the door frame. I was so close--and actually running towards them--that another two steps and I would have caught him before he fell to the pavement.
There were a lot of people in the nearby strip mall and I screamed for them to call an ambulance and the police, the ambulance for him and the police for the car driver. The rider was unconscious at first, then seriously dazed, and it took a few minutes before he could respond to any questions. In the meantime, myself and another onlooker held his head still and I did my best to reassure him that the ambulance would be there quickly and that they'd take real good care of him and he'd be okay. He was breathing okay and able to wiggle his fingers and toes so there was nothing else I could do other than give a report to the police.
Just so you know, the scooter rider was well-equipped for the street, wearing an open-face helmet, leather jacket, leather gloves, heavy pants and leather boots--unlike many scooter and motorcycle riders that I see on the road wearing inadequate riding gear.
What's the point?
First: know what to do when someone is injured. Take a first aid class. Take CPR. And never remove a rider's helmet unless absolutely necessary, such as the victim is not breathing and you need to give mouth to mouth resucitation.
Second: Get all the rider training you can. There'll be a feature in the May 2008 issue on riding courses, but in the meantime there's plenty of good books available on the subject that you can read during the cold winter nights ahead.
Finally: In my analysis of the above situation, the driver precipitated the accident but the rider caused the collision. Now don't get your collective undergarments in a twist, I didn't say the rider was at fault. However, the collision was 100% avoidable. The rider should have started to slow as soon as the car began to cross into his lane. In fact, the rider could have come to a stop without panic braking had he done this. Next, trying to go around the front of a vehicle turning across your path is usually not the best course of action. Answer this: in all your years of riding and driving, when a person is honked at, have you ever seen them put their vehicle in reverse? No, they always continue forwards or stop. So the better course of action would have been to go behind the car. Again, collision averted.
So dress appropriately, know how to handle your motorcycle in adverse situations and know what to do in an emergency.
Please be careful out there--2008 is going to be a great year and we want you with us, reading Cruiser and enjoying your motorcycles.